Shaun Murphy Opens Up on Ronnie Rift: “Ronnie verbally abused me when I was 12 — and I’ve never forgiven him”
Snooker star Shaun Murphy has opened up about his complicated relationship with Ronnie O’Sullivan, revealing a painful personal memory from his childhood that has shaped his feelings toward the seven-time world champion for more than two decades. In a candid new interview, Murphy admitted he has never forgiven O’Sullivan for verbally abusing him when he was just 12 years old, even though he continues to admire the Rocket’s unmatched talent on the table.
The 2005 world champion, now one of the sport’s most recognizable voices both as a player and commentator, reflected on the moment that left him scarred. “I was only a kid, eager, excited, and just desperate to soak up everything about snooker,” Murphy said. “Ronnie was already this incredible young talent, someone we all looked up to. I was thrilled just to be in the same room as him. But then he said things to me that no child should hear from their hero. It cut deep, and truthfully, it has never left me.”
Though Murphy did not go into explicit detail about the comments, he described the exchange as a formative and negative experience. “To be verbally abused by someone you idolize at that age — it does something to you. It put a chip on my shoulder, and even though I’ve gone on to achieve my own career, that moment has always been there in the background.”
Murphy’s revelation casts new light on a relationship that has long appeared frosty on the circuit. While the two have shared the stage in some memorable matches, including high-stakes battles at the Crucible and other ranking events, there has often been an undercurrent of tension. Murphy has never hidden his mixed feelings toward O’Sullivan, frequently praising his genius but also criticizing his behavior and attitude.
“I’ll never deny Ronnie’s greatness,” Murphy continued. “What he’s done for snooker technically, artistically, and competitively is beyond compare. He’s the best player I’ve ever seen, and we may never see another like him. But for me personally, I struggle to separate the genius from the way he has carried himself at times. And I know I’m not alone in feeling that way.”
In particular, Murphy questioned whether O’Sullivan truly embraced his role as an ambassador for snooker. “When you’re the face of the sport, the responsibility doesn’t end with potting balls. It’s about inspiring people, growing the game, and being a positive example. Too often Ronnie has seemed disinterested, or he’s spoken negatively about the sport that made him. I find that hard to reconcile. Imagine what he could have achieved not just as a player, but as an ambassador, if he had fully embraced that responsibility.”
These remarks highlight a broader debate within snooker circles. O’Sullivan’s brilliance on the table has rarely been questioned, but his sometimes controversial behavior — from mid-match walkouts to outspoken criticisms of the game’s structures — has divided opinion. To some, his rebellious streak is part of his appeal. To others, like Murphy, it has been a source of frustration.
Murphy acknowledged that his own experiences may make him harsher than most in his assessment of the Rocket. “I’ll admit, maybe I judge him more severely because of that day when I was 12. If he’d been kind, if he’d encouraged me, maybe I’d see him differently now. Instead, I carry that memory, and it colors everything.”
Despite the rift, Murphy insists he respects O’Sullivan’s achievements and recognizes his contribution to snooker’s profile worldwide. “There are kids in China, in Europe, in America who know snooker because of Ronnie O’Sullivan. That’s undeniable. Even I, for all my misgivings, can’t help but admire some of the things he’s done on the table. He’s made shots that still make my jaw drop.”
Asked whether reconciliation is possible, Murphy hesitated. “I don’t know. Life is too short to carry bitterness, and I don’t wish Ronnie any harm. But forgiveness is a different thing. Maybe one day we’ll sit down and clear the air, but I can’t pretend that what happened didn’t shape me. That would be dishonest.”
As Murphy continues his own career, both on the table and in the commentary box, his honesty adds a new dimension to the ongoing story of snooker’s most charismatic and controversial figure. For fans, it underscores the duality of O’Sullivan: the unparalleled genius with a cue, and the flawed, sometimes abrasive personality outside the arena.
In the end, Murphy summed up his feelings with a mixture of admiration and regret: “I’ll always respect Ronnie the player. Ronnie the man? That’s harder. But maybe that’s just who he is — complicated, brilliant, and impossible to ignore.”
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